~"perfect timing"~

Early the next morning after the mini ‘concert’ the phone rang. Nobody answered. It rang and rang and rang until a groan was heard and Ike stumbled out of bed to answer it. Kayla lay in bed trying to hear what he was saying, he was trying to talk softly but still a few words carried to her bedroom. She decided to get up. Rolling out of bed she searched around the floor for a sweater and all she could find was Taylor’s old one, she put it on and trudged into the hallway. Ike was now sitting on the floor uttering an occasional, ‘yes’ ‘uh-huh’ or ‘dont worry it’s all under control.’ Guessing he was talking to his mother Kayla by passed him into the kitchen. Opening the fridge Kayla was realised that nobody had bothered to go shopping for the last days and she was met with that awful feeling when there is nothing in the entire region to eat. It was very depressing. She slammed the door to the fridge and went about making herself some corn flakes, Kayla hates corn flakes but there was no choice. Ike walked in after hanging up just as Kayla was adding her Milk.

"Cornflakes? Kayla you hate cornflakes."

"I know, I know..but there is nothing to eat." Ike raised his eyebrow and opened the fridge.

"yeah your right, there is nothing to eat."

"Would I lie?" Kayla teased

"Well you never know." Ike replied laughing.

There was silence while Kayla tried chewing her cornflakes without tasting them and Ike went through the freezer. Finally giving up on the cornflakes Kayla threw them down the sink.

"urggg, I dont know how Taylor can eat them, they’re sick."

"They’re not that bad…I can think of worse things."

"Yeah, whatever…anyways what did your Mum have to say? Oh no, sorry…Mom have to say.?"

Ike rolled his eyes at her try at an American accent.

"I dont speak anything like that, she just wanted to tell me that they are going to be at least another week out there…how did you know it was her anyways?"

"I could tell, What’s keeping them?"

"I dunno, Mac wants to go to some sorta camp, the girls are pretty keen too."

"Oh, well anyways more time for us to have the run of the house!!"

"Whatever! Hey, why are you wearing my brothers sweatshirt? Is something going on that nobody has told me about?"

"Oh yeah….Taylor and I have all the kinky things going on!"

"Now that is scary!!"

They both laughed. Sitting down they discussed how long they would wait until they woke the others up so they could go to McDonalds to get breakfast. They were arguing about who would have to wake Zac, the immortal sleeper, when they heard a scratching noise in the hall. Looking at each other in alarm they stopped talking to listen. There was definitely a scratching sound, then it sounded like the phone was taken off the hook. Ike and Kayla looked at each other and silently agreed that it was Zac being a pain trying to scare them and they walked into the hallway. Keryn dropped the phone in fright.

"Jesus, you guys, scare the hell out of me!"

"We thought it was Zac trying to scare the hell out of us!! Why are you creeping around anyways?" Kayla asked.

"I….I…thought you were all asleep. I didnt want to wake you"

Ike and Kayla looked at Keryn. Ike was the first to say it.

"Keryn, why do you have a suitcase?"

Keryn’s eyes filled with tears. She stood their shaking and Ike and Kayla had no idea what to do.

"Keryn, calm down, we’re here." Kayla approached her and took the reciever out of her hand.

"I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry." Keryn wailed.

Ike rushed to get her some water as Kayla made her sit on the floor and through her tears Keryn explained herself.

"Kayla I have to go back, I don’t know what I want, I’m so confused."

"But why cant you think about it here I mean, I’m here, so’s Ike and Tayl…Ohhh, Taylor"

"It’s not just him its…Oh I’m so confused."

"You mean you dont know what you mean to him?"

Keryn nodded.

"Look Keryn, I’m practically sure that he is just as confused as you are. The only reason why this has blown out of proportion is that you had the pox and couldn’t shout it out with him like you usually would have done…am I right?"

Once again Keryn nodded. Kayla hugged her as Ike returned with the glass of water.

"Thanks Ike."

"Anything for Keryn who things she can run out on us!!"

"I was going to leave a note."

"How big of you!" Ike joked. Keryn smiled.

"…Keryn?" The voice was from behind, Taylor standing there in his boxers and T-shirt looked sheepish . Keryns smiled faded as wuickly as it arrived. "Can we talk?"

Keryn glanced at Ike and Kayla who gave no signs of what she should so, before she knew it they had retreated to the kitchen and she was alone with Taylor.

"You were going to leave and not tell me?"

"I didnt know you cared."

"You know I care."

"Oh really? Could have fooled me."

There was silence as the two avoided looking at each other. Taylor was the first to break it.

"I’m sorry I was such a jerk, I didn’t mean for this to happen, your my best friend."

Keryn didnt reply, she just stayed staring at the ceiling. She wasnt sure how she felt.

"Taylor? Your best friend, I don’t know if that’s enough anymore."

Taylor quickly looked up. He was confused.

"Keryn, it has to be enough, we cant work it any other way."

Keryn, feeling the blow tried to gather her thoughts..

"You were the one who…"

"That was then..things have changed."

"But how about all the…I’ve thought about it Taylor, I’ll risk it."

"But I wont."

They stared at each other. In mutual frustration.

"We have the worst timing huh?" said Keryn.

"Haven’t we always?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"You still going to leave?"

"I think I have to, this isn’t all about you you know."

"I know."

"But Taylor, you’re still my best friend, you always will be."

"And you’ll always be mind, no matter what."

Keryn raised her eyebrow, "No matter what? That sounds corny, like that stupid Boyzone Christmas carol."

"I was trying to be serious!!"

"You failed."

"God Keryn, you never take me seriously."

Keryn stopped laughing.

" You know I do."

Taylor nodded and simply turned and pick up Keryn’s suitcase and dragged it to her room. Keryn, still sitting on the floor didn’t have the energy to object.




Kayla and Ike were silently sitting at the kitchen table when Keryn came in. They both looked up expectantly. Keryn just smiled at them.

"I gather you’re not leaving then." Asked Kayla, dumbfounded at the sudden change at attitude.

"Not today, no."

Kayla and Ike glanced at each other, they just didnt understand anything that was going on. Keryn stopped rattling around the pantry long enough to say,

"You know how I have been such a bitch lately?"

Once again Kayla and Ike looked at each other.

"Oh go on say it..I have, but I’m over that now."

"Okay Keryn, you have been…difficult lately." Ike tactfully said.

"Yeah..well I think that seeing now Taylor and I have sorted ourselves out for the moment that you two should go off somewhere tonight..alone."

"Well really Keryn there is…."

"No excuses Kayla, this is your night to go anywhere, except the Mall you always go there, I promise Taylor and I wont fight, Promise."

"Well okay then…we dont always go to the Mall!"

"Yeah you do"

"We go to the supermarket."

"The supermarket is in the Mall!"

"Fine, okay..whatever….yes Ike, shall we go?"

"Why not? It’ll be fun."

"Ahhh..see you already sound like a married couple," Ike and Kayla gave Keryn an evil.. "…a married couple that isn’t a couple? Why the hell aren’t you a couple anyways, you do everything together?"

"Keryn, we’ve been through this…" Kayla said aggravated.

"I know..but still he isn’t like Dan and it’s been a while now."

"What 3 weeks?"

"Thats long enough. Anyways I think you should be."

"We’ll see." Replied Kayla

"Now you definitely sound like a married woman.. ‘we’ll see’ anyways..in your own time."

Kayla just smiled and left the kitchen intending to have a shower. Ike stayed sat at the table listening to Keryn yabbering on.

"..I really do believe that one day you will ask why you didnt get together earlier….and I will say.."

"Yes Keryn, I know, and you know I want to ask her, but timing, I have to wait a while longer." Ike butted in.

"Good timing is tonight. Trust me."

"Whatever, but this isnt the issue."

"Then what is?"

"What happened outside?"

Keryn stood silent for a moment, studying Ike.

"Let me just say, ask now why you both think it’s a good idea."

"That isnt what I asked."

"Oh yes it is."

And with that Keryn blew him a kiss and hurled herself out of the kitchen. Ike was left sitting at the bench trying to figure out what the hell was going on. He decided it was best to give up. He would never understand.


Chapter Fifteen HOME Chapter Seventeen
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